Related Articles

Packing your bags without first planning leads to items left forgotten at home, overstuffed bags and a suitcase full of things you don’t actually need. Additionally, airport safety regulations put in place following September 11, 2001, have made it more difficult to pack for air travel because they restrict what you can and cannot bring on board.

Step 1

Familiarize yourself with items prohibited by airlines operating in Canada. Many items are allowed in checked baggage but may not be brought onto the flight. Baseball bats, ski poles, scissors, utility knives, box cutters and even knickknacks such as snow globes are prohibited on board.

Step 2

Keep all important items in your carry-on luggage. Air Canada recommends carrying your laptop, money, medications, keys and expensive items such as cameras and cell phones in your carry-on bags rather than checked luggage, in case your bags are lost.

Step 3

Pack all liquid items into smaller size containers if you intend to pack them with your carry-on. Canada travel regulations prohibit bottles containing more than 3.4 ounces of liquid in carry-on baggage; security will require you to leave larger bottles behind. Opt for trial size bottles whenever possible, or pack the larger bottles in your checked baggage.

Step 4

Check your bags for outdated luggage tags or airline tags, removing any with an old address. Air Canada also recommends that you use new luggage tags that include a phone number and address, in case your bag is lost.

Step 5

Check your carry-on bag's size and weight against the limits allowed by the airline. Air Canada allows one carry-on bag and one personal item, such as a purse or laptop bag, per person on board. Your bag must be no larger than 9 by 15.5 by 21.5 inches and weigh 22 lbs. or less. Other airlines that fly throughout Canada have similar weight restrictions in place.

Tip

If you’re short on space with your checked baggage, try the wrapping technique. Wrap a lightweight piece of clothing around an item such as a razor case, and slowly wrap additional layers of clothing on top. This saves space and also helps reduce wrinkles.

References

Resources

About the Author

Jennifer Eblin has been a full-time freelance writer since 2006. Her work has appeared on several websites, including Tool Box Tales and Zonder. Eblin received a master's degree in historic preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design.